“I’ve met my mate, Lory.”As if what my father said earlier wasn’t enough, Jacob’s words added fuel to the fire. It was like a bomb to me. With my family forcing me to offer myself to the new alpha, I thought I could find my way out of it through him.We had been in a relationship for two years now. As someone from a family of omega serving those in the upper class, Jacob’s status hindered us from being out in public. Dad would kill me if he found out I was associating myself with a boy of lower status. So we loved each other secretly, waiting for the right time to tell everyone what was between us.But now I didn’t think that was possible. Earlier this morning during breakfast, Dad said the alpha asked for five ladies of marriageable age from the most respected families in the pack where he’d be choosing a wife prospect after a thorough screening. Dad informed me he'd be submitting my name in the registry and it wasn’t something negotiable.After hearing it, my mind went haywire to t

“Make sure not to make a single mistake, sweetheart. Am I clear enough?” Dad said with a gentle tone but the way he looked at me spoke warning.When we finally arrived at the Alpha’s residence, Dad held the car’s door for me and lent me a hand. The ends of my long dress touched the ground when I stepped out. It was a black dress with shining stones all over it. My long brown hair was elegantly done in updo with some curled strands purposely left around the corners of my face.We went inside the mansion with me holding Dad’s arm. I had always been trained to be a graceful flower for special occasions like this. Whenever Dad requested my presence in events, refusing wasn’t an option. So it wasn’t new to me.However, this time I found it hard to stay calm. I was anxious. The way most of the guests greeted and looked at us, it was like they were expecting I’d be one of the selected ladies. That giving me a spot was a given because I was Henry Sullivan’s daughter.And I hated it because I

When I went back inside, I was still dumbfounded. I wanted to think that whatever I heard back in the garden wasn’t true but who am I kidding?Why did fate seem to be playing with me?When the most anticipated time arrived, I stood there frozen among the crowd, my toes were curling on my shoes. If I was just any girl, it would have been a privilege. I would feel blessed for receiving the Alpha’s attention and making my father proud, but that wasn’t the case.All my life I felt like I was chained. Dad honed me to be the person he wanted me to be. His principles were unbreakable rules. The world he gave me felt like a cage and all I ever wanted was to break free. I was under his control all my life, and now am I going to be controlled by another man?“I know most of you are waiting for this,” said Alpha Calix with a smirk on his face. After looking around, his eyes found mine once again.An unfamiliar shiver ran through my spine.“Now I’m going to announce the five ladies who will be su

“How was your sleep? If there is anything you don’t like about your rooms, just tell Judson. He will make the necessary arrangements,” said Alpha Calix during the next day’s breakfast. Our places on the table were still the same. Genevieve and Marianne had the seats nearest to the Alpha while I took the farthest among the five ladies. Last night, I thought about what Roselle said to me when I left our mansion. She said something like turning off the alpha so he wouldn’t choose me. It actually made sense. If I would just mind my own business and wouldn’t try hard on pleasing Alpha Calix like what everyone else was doing, then probably he wouldn’t see me as a wife prospect. I should also try doing the opposite of what he was expecting from us. The quicker he’d get turned off, the quicker I could leave. “Loraine.” When Evelyn, who was sitting beside me, kicked my foot under the table, it was only then I realized that Alpha had been calling my name and I wasn’t paying attention. I lift

“Are you heading back to the mansion now?” Michael asked after the match. Even when it was the first time he joined Clayburrow’s equestrian match, Alpha Calix aced the game. There were a fair number of participants who knew well what they were doing, but Alpha seemed to be a little more aggressive than the others. The way he moved with his horse, it felt like he wanted to burn the whole arena. Thinking about how he looked at me before the match started made me feel a hollow in my stomach. If it was really me he was looking at, did I get him annoyed? But I only changed seats. Did he say something like the girls should stick together at times like this? I couldn’t remember. “Loraine?” Michael called when I didn’t answer his question. I offered him an apologetic smile. “Sorry. Yes, I think so.” “We should go to our favorite café, Lory! Mr. Michael can go with us too!” Rose butted in. “I’m sure the Alpha doesn’t forbid you going out?” I shook my head. “Then that’s great! What do you